It’s Been A Privilege

WRITTEN BY Rick Nomura

The very first game I played as a Razorback was against North Dakota State. It’s a game that I’ll never forget.

When I came here last year, I felt like I just started college. I came to Arkansas from Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas, which was 3,900 miles from home in Hawaii. Alvin was a small school in a small town – we had a Popeye’s, a Walmart, the school, and that’s about it. So when I came here to Fayetteville and saw all the tradition and life on campus, that was definitely something I haven’t experienced before.

After we ran onto the field and sang the National Anthem, the school fight song started playing through the stadium speakers and the first time the fans called the Hogs, it gave me chills and it still gives me chills every single game. The sense of school pride is enormous here and it’s a privilege to be on the field. I guess it’s because I went to junior college and I kind of know the flip side of things, but it’s definitely a privilege to play for the Razorbacks.

Rick Nomura

At that game, I remember McAfee was at shortstop and when the crowd started cheering, I was like, “Oh my God, this is sick!” and he just started cracking up because it was his third year and he kind of knew what I was going through because every kid goes through it during their first year.

Our fans, win or lose, they’re always out there and I think that’s awesome. We’ll put 12,000 fans out there during a weekend per game and that’s unbelievable because in college baseball a 12,000-person crowd in unheard of. I’m just so happy our fans are so supportive. I have a fan section in 101 at Baum that hold up palm trees for me during home games. That’s so special for me. I came here not knowing what to expect, what would happen and I didn’t know how the team’s fans would react to me, a Hawaii kid. Seeing those palm trees during my first game made me really happy and it brought a smile on my face to see that Razorback fans are so supportive.

Rick Nomura

I was surprised – I didn’t know our fans looked into the baseball team’s recruiting. I just thought the fans at the game were just enjoying themselves and to see them have a real connection with new players coming in and seeing what’s going on, that makes you appreciate our fans that much more.

Hearing our fans call the Hogs in Omaha was probably one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. Having the whole stadium say “Wooo Pig Sooie!” while I was standing on the field was amazing.

Going to Omaha was almost an indescribable feeling because it’s such a hard place to get to. You’re one of a few hundred players that get to go there and play in front of thousands upon thousands of people. I remember after winning that Super Regional – the last pitch that Zach Jackson threw and struck the last guy out – I was in shock. I was just like, “My childhood dream is coming true, I’m going to the College World Series!” And I recall running into the dogpile, yelling and hugging all my teammates and seeing our coaches be so proud of us … it was such a great feeling.

If I were to make a wish for someone to have a great life experience, it would be that moment. It was such a great experience that it’s hard to put into words.

I just want to thank the Razorbacks for giving me the opportunity and my mom and dad, who I love so much. They’re the ones who pushed me away from home to get to here and it must’ve been hard for parents to tell their kid to go away for college. I’ve met so many student-athletes here during my two years, and studying at the Jones Center has been awesome. Jerry Jones has helped us a lot.

It’s been great and this experience will be something I’ll always have. I’ll always bleed Razorback red and that’ll be a part of me forever.

Go Hogs!

Nomura is at his final year of NCAA eligibility and he will seek to be drafted by a MLB team and fulfill his dream of playing professional baseball. Prior to this season, Nomura was called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers but he declined because he chose to come back to school. He plans to finish his final year and earn his bachelor’s degree at the University of Arkansas if he doesn’t get drafted.